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Bally's officials sent $212,671 to a fraudster who claimed to be a representative of a construction company with business dealings with the operator.
Months later, a devastating cyber attack hit MGM and Caesars, and Bally's properties in Evansville, Indiana, became victims of a phishing scam. As a result, the casino hotel suffered losses exceeding $212,000.
According to reports, the Evansville Police Department revealed that Bally's property had contracted a construction company for work on its estate. However, at one point, a caller contacted the casino hotel management, claiming the company had to change its email. Additionally, the person provided Bally's with a bank account and the bank code for construction payments.
Bally's officials did not suspect the scam and went ahead with it, ultimately paying $212,671 to the fraudster. The casino operator immediately contacted the authorities, prompting an investigation.
While phishing scams are not entirely cyberattacks, they are part of a larger trend where fraudsters target major commercial casino companies. As mentioned earlier, some of the largest casino operators in the United States suffered serious security breaches earlier this year, jeopardizing their business and resulting in millions of dollars in losses.
Bally's Evansville is no stranger to dealing with crime and fraud. The hotel, with 45,000 square feet of gaming space, features around 950 slot machines and 30 electronic and live dealer gaming tables, offering a variety of games for customers. Additionally, sports enthusiasts can place bets on sports betting under the William Hill brand.
Unfortunately, this phishing attempt is not the first time Bally's Evansville has had to deal with fraud and criminal cases. Just a month ago, a suspect in a car theft case was arrested at the hotel.
In November, the police arrested another Bally's Evansville patron for leaving their children unattended while gambling. This reflects an unfortunate trend in the United States where irresponsible parents neglect their children while visiting casinos. For example, in November alone, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board banned four casino customers for this type of misconduct.
In March of this year, Bally's Evansville had to dismiss a former casino supervisor who was accused of operating an illegal poker room called "Ed's Poker Club." The man had been organizing illegal poker games for years, intensifying his activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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